BANMI eyes changes in 25-and-under caging

The Basketball Association of the Northern Mariana Islands is mulling changes in the 25-and-under Basketball League that would essentially “ban” players already seeing action in the Saipan Rotary Club Summer Youth Basketball League.

This came to light during BANMI’s monthly meeting Thursday at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium after some board members argued that Rotary cagers run the risk of getting fatigued when they play in both leagues, especially now that it is likely the 25-and-under and Rotary would be held almost at the same time.

One solution to the problem is raising the age requirement for BANMI’s 25-and-under caging, whereas previous years anyone below 25 years old was allowed to play, the islands’ basketball governing body is looking at raising the minimum age requirement to 19 years old.

BANMI is expected to finalize the format for the 25-and-under Basketball League during its next scheduled monthly meeting on Aug. 2.

For now, BANMI is calling on all interested teams that would like to participate in the both leagues—25-and-under cage league and Rotary—to start preparing.

Entrance fee for the 25-and-under cage league is $800, while that for the Rotary league is $200.

While there is no date yet set for the start of the 25-and-under league, the Rotary cage competition is set to unfurl anytime soon. Teams should be ready to present documents such as birth certificates or other proof of age as well as waiver forms to the organizing committee.

This year’s Rotary caging will adopt a two age group format-Division I (age group for 12 to 14 years old) and Division II (age group for 15 to 18).

For more inquiries about the 25-and-under Basketball League and the under-18 Saipan Rotary Club Summer Youth Basketball League, contact coordinators Abner Venus at 483-4906 or Elias Rangamar at 664-2502.

Ulloa’s won the 2007 SaipanCell 25-and-under Youth Basketball League crown, beating the Southern Sonics, 2-1, in their best-of-three championship series.

The team clinched the crown after a 90-81 victory in Game 3. Ulloa’s took Game 1, 101-86, but Southern Sonics roared back with a 100-94 victory in Game 2.

The defending champion for the 2008 Rotary league, meanwhile, is the CNMI Junior Nationals.

The team’s championship also came at the expense of the Southern Sonics, as the Rufino Aguon-coached Junior Nationals won the winner-take-all finals late last year in a score of 98-91.